NHL trade rumors continue to focus on San Jose Sharks

Jason Demers has often been the odd-man out on the San Jose Sharks even without a completely healthy blue line. But he is a solid defenseman that would be an upgrade for the third pair of the Calgary Flames, and help to balance their blue line with a little more puck-moving ability.He makes only $1.25 million and is a restricted free agent that Calgary can be confident they can re-sign. At just 24 years old, he can be part of their back end into the next decade if the relationship proves mutually beneficial.Miikka Kiprusoff will be in the last year of his contract next season, and would make a great player for a young goalie to learn from. Most likely, the Calgary Flames will not be able to rebuild fast enough to make an aging goalie worth retaining, and they will need a new goalie.The San Jose Sharks churn out goalies, including Kiprusoff. There are more prospects than they can keep, so Stalock's loss can be absorbed by Harri Sateri. It is likely Thomas Greiss or a comparable backup goalie can be signed for close to the NHL minimum if he is not ready, and no one better is needed because Antti Niemi is obviously not going anywhere for a couple years.Ryane Clowe makes sense for the San Jose Sharks to give up for the same reasons he is tied to many rumors—he is a top-six forward but not performing as well as he needs to; he is in the last year of his contract but at 30 has several good years in front of him.The Sharks are unlikely to be able to re-sign him, but Calgary could take advantage of the buyer's market and the room created by trading Jarome Iginla. He brings at least as much physicality, more passing and almost as much skating. The lack of scoring will be worth it to get something for a guy they will lose anyway while shaving a few years off their wing.Sending Clowe to Calgary leaves San Jose taking on over $3 million in additional salary. However, they can absorb it given it is pro-rated for only about one-fourth of a regular season. Thus the only remaining consideration is more talent to make the trade seem more enticing.View the list »
Could Jarome Iginla be playing his last games with the Calgary Flames?

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The San Jose Sharks continue to be among the top NHL teams discussed in trade rumors. From the CSN-California post-game broadcast Tuesday, March 12, to having Ryane Clowe mentioned in two specific rumors: NHL Trade Report on the same day to The Hockey News last Friday.

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The reason for this is a trade makes sense. The inability of the Sharks to score is not an anomaly this many weeks into the season, and they are not winning anything without adding scoring touch, grit and/or speed.

Expiring contracts and a slashed salary cap this summer indicate the proverbial window will close for this team as currently constructed to win the Stanley Cup beyond 2013. The good news is that one trade enabled a title for a Los Angeles Kings squad that looked weaker in 2012 than the Sharks do now. Since prospects and picks can be replenished this summer, there is no point in giving up just yet.

There is no doubt San Jose needs a forward to take some of the scoring burden off the first line. The best forward on the market is presumed to be Jarome Iginla. With his Calgary Flames currently in last place in the Western Conference and the ability of a team that desperately needs a rebuild to re-sign an aging star, he may finally become available.

If ever Iginla would waive whatever no-movement clause is in his contract, it would be to play in San Jose. In addition to Team Canada line mates Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, it does not get better than a warm-weather (yet not hot) destination in front of a fervent fan base on a team already likely to make the playoffs. He has to believe that finally having a play-making center will enable him to win a Stanley Cup.

Iginla would help San Jose's need for scoring touch, net-front presence, and passion. He might even be an upgrade as a skater over his replacement, though he will not change the team dynamic in that regard.

Who cares that he would be a rental the team could not afford to re-sign? They were set to lose most of the talent they would be shipping off in addition to their one contract amnesty, and any extra money lost through Iginla's departure will only improve free agency flexibility in a buyer's market and hasten the rebuilding process.

But to get something you have to give something. Not much has changed in the three weeks since this analysis determined five assets the team could afford to trade. This list that includes why each component works for each team.

View the list
  • Ryane Clowe makes sense for the San Jose Sharks to give up for the same reasons he is tied to many rumors—he is a top-six forward but not performing as well as he needs to; he is in the last year of his contract but at 30 has several good years in front of him.The Sharks are unlikely to be able to re-sign him, but Calgary could take advantage of the buyer's market and the room created by trading Jarome Iginla. He brings at least as much physicality, more passing and almost as much skating. The lack of scoring will be worth it to get something for a guy they will lose anyway while shaving a few years off their wing.Sending Clowe to Calgary leaves San Jose taking on over $3 million in additional salary. However, they can absorb it given it is pro-rated for only about one-fourth of a regular season. Thus the only remaining consideration is more talent to make the trade seem more enticing.
  • Miikka Kiprusoff will be in the last year of his contract next season, and would make a great player for a young goalie to learn from. Most likely, the Calgary Flames will not be able to rebuild fast enough to make an aging goalie worth retaining, and they will need a new goalie.The San Jose Sharks churn out goalies, including Kiprusoff. There are more prospects than they can keep, so Stalock's loss can be absorbed by Harri Sateri. It is likely Thomas Greiss or a comparable backup goalie can be signed for close to the NHL minimum if he is not ready, and no one better is needed because Antti Niemi is obviously not going anywhere for a couple years.
  • Jason Demers has often been the odd-man out on the San Jose Sharks even without a completely healthy blue line. But he is a solid defenseman that would be an upgrade for the third pair of the Calgary Flames, and help to balance their blue line with a little more puck-moving ability.He makes only $1.25 million and is a restricted free agent that Calgary can be confident they can re-sign. At just 24 years old, he can be part of their back end into the next decade if the relationship proves mutually beneficial.
  • The San Jose Sharks do not have any great skating prospects at this time. As was said in the game broadcast Tuesday, one scout said there was not one player capable of making an impact soon at the NHL level in the team's system.This is going to hurt using prospects to make the trade desirable for the Calgary Flames. The few that are desirable (Tomas Hertl, namely) are off-limits, but there is always a chance Jay Feaster has his eyes on a prospect the Sharks can afford to give up. Considering the chances of anyone else making a difference in San Jose, they are expendable.To some extent, the same goes for draft picks. Outside of the top half of the draft—where San Jose will not be anyway—there is little difference between one round and the next for players working out. Not much can be given up here—perhaps one first-round pick or two lesser picks—but these can also be replenished in the summer if the trade does not work out.
View the list

, San Jose Sharks Examiner

Former community leader and featured columnist for the San Jose Sharks on Bleacher Report, MJ has been covering the Bay Area's most successful team for over four years. You may have seen MJ's work featured on Yahoo, CBS Sports and Fox Sports websites as well as numerous other places that cover...

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